Marking apparatus



A ril 5, 1966 1. s. GOTTSCHO ETAL 3,

MARKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- I 1 KA Gar-Tamra 74R 72-0710 Mic/MEL 1 5 "11 2 INVENTORS' April 1966 l. s. GOTTSCHO ETAL I 3,244,092

MARKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,244,092 MARKING APPARATUS Ira S. Gottscho, Milburn, N..l'., Victor Plotkin, Brooklyn,

N.Y., and Michael J. Shumila, Newark, N..I., assignors to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., Hillside, N..l., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 407,481 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-9) This invention relates generally to marking apparatus, and more particularly is directed to an apparatus which is an improvement over that disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,128,692, issued April 14, 1964, to Lawrence J. Talarico, and having a common assignee herewith, and which is similarly intended for imprinting a web or flattened tube of plastic film or other glossy non-fibrous sheet material by pressing a heated die or type elements against the sheet material through a hot roll leaf stamping tape.

In the apparatus disclosed in the above identified Letters Patent, a single fluid pressure, preferably compressed air operated cylinder has its piston or ram connected to v a lever assembly so as to rock the latter, and a heater block from which the type elements are suspended is connected to the lever assembly to move the heated type elements against and away from the hot roll leaf stamping tape in response to rocking of the lever assembly, while the feeding movement of the tape is achieved by engagement of the latter |wtih a feeding roller connected, through a gear train and a -oneway or overrun-ing clutch, with an angularly movable arm actuated by rocking of the lever assembly to move the tape through a predetermined distance during each movement of the type elements away from the tape.

The known marking apparatus having the above general structural arrangement is disadvantageous in that a relatively high gear ratio is required in the gear train for turning the feeding roller in response to angular movement of the arm by rocking of the lever assembly. By reason of the relatively large gear ratio of the gear train, and hence the poor mechanical advantage inherent therein, the known marking apparatus has a tendency to stall. Further, in the known apparatus, adjustment of the length of the stamping tape to be fed during each operating cycle can be effected only when the apparatus is at rest, whereas the most economical use of the stamping tape is most conveniently achieved by adjustment of the feeding distance during operation of the apparatus to ensure that there are no gaps between the portions of the stamping tape which are successively exposed .to the action of the heated type elements.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved marking apparatus which imprints a web or flattened tube by pressing a heated die or type elements against the latter through a hot roll leaf stamping tape, and which is capable of trouble-free and uniform operationwhile permitting the most economical utilization of the tape. 1

A further object is to provide a marking apparatus of the described character which achieves imprints of improved quality by ensuring that uniform pressure is exerted by the heated die or type elements over the entire area of each imprint.

Still another object is to provide a marking apparatus of the described character in which the stamping tape subjected to the action of the heated die is held taut during each marking operation.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a marking apparatus of the described character is provided with two fluid pressure, preferably compressed air operated cylinders which respectively effect the movement of the heated die or type elements toward and away from the "ice hot roll leaf stamping tape and the feeding movements of the tape, and wherein the supplying of compressed air to the cylinders is suitably controlled from an associated wrapping or other machine to which the web or flattened tube being marked i-s intermittently advanced so that the heated die, which is suspended from the piston or ram of the related cylinder for rectilinear movement thereby, presses through the hot roll leaf stamping tape against the web or flattened tube when the latter is at rest, while the feed-ing movement of the tape is efiiected by the other cylinder during each advancement of the web or flattened tube, at which time the heated die is moved away from the tape.

' In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylinder for effecting the feeding movement of the tape has its ram or plunger connected through a rack and gear and a one-way or overrunning clutch with a feeding roller shaft so that the distance through which the tape is moved or fed during each operating cycle is determined by the length of the stroke of the ram or plunger, and such stroke is limited by an externally accessible stop screw which can be adjusted during operation of the apparatus to vary the feeding distance of the tape. A further feature of the apparatus embodying the invention is the provision of two feeding rollers mounted on the same shaft and respectively engaging the stamping tape at locations along the path of the latter between a supply reel and the marking position where the tape is exposed to the action of the heated die, and between such marking position and a take-up reel which is yieldably or resiliently driven from the feeding roller shaft, so that the tape at the marking position is held substantially taut.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, Will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a marking apparatus embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the marking apparatus which is partly broken away;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus as viewed from the side of the latter opposed to that shown on FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic View of a control system for the marking apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings in detail, it will be seen that a marking apparatus embodying the present invention, and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10, includes a housing 12 made up of side frame plates or walls 14 and 16 held in parallel spaced apart relation by a top wall 18 and a bottom plate 20, and a back closure 22. As shown on FIG. 2, the bottom plate 20 only extends between the back halves of the lower edges of side walls 14 and 16 so that housing 12 opens downwardly, as at 24, in front of bottom plate 20. The housing 12 is mounted so that its bottom opening 24 faces toward the web or flattened tube W which is intermittently advanced to a wrapping or other machine (not shown) utilizing successive sections of the web or flattened tube after code or other markings have been applied to each of such sections by the apparatus 10.

As shown particularly on FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting for housing 12 preferably includes an inverted U-shapecl clamp 26 having a square top 28 and flanges 30 depend ing from two opposed edges of the latter. Four equally spaced apart screws 32 which are all equidistant from the center of square top 28 extend through bores formed in clamp 26 and are engaged in equally spaced apart, tapped holes formed in the front portion of top wall 18 of housing 12. By reason of the described arrangement of the screws 32 and the corresponding tapped holes in top wall 18, clamp 26 can be secured to the housing either with its flanges 30 extending across top wall 18, as in the drawings, or with its flanges 30 extending along the op posite side or lateral edges of top wall 18 for a purpose hereinafter described in detail. A locking bolt 34 has its head seated on two washers 36 with spherical con tacting surfaces and extends, with substantial clearance, through a central hole 38 in the top 28 of clamp 26. The bolt 34 is screwed into an inverted T-shaped locking member 40 (FIG. 2) disposed within clamp 26. Two parallel, spaced apart mounting bars 42 (FIGS. 2 and 4) extend laterally above the path of travel of web or flattened tube W at a suitable location along such path and are received within clamp 26 'between locking member 40 and top 28. Four equally spaced apart adjusting or levelling set screws 44 (FIGS. 1 and '2) extend downwardly through top 28 to engage the upper surfaces of mounting bars 42. A pair of set screws 46 which are symmetrically located at opposite sides of the medial plane of housing 12 extend through one of flanges 30 of clamp 26 to engage the forward mounting bar 42.

It will be apparent that, when locking bolt 34 and set screws 46 are loosened, clamp '26 can be moved laterally along mounting bars 42 so as to .varythe lateral position of marking apparatus 10 with respect to the web or flattened tube W. The set screws 44 can be adjusted to vary the vertical position of housing 12 relative to the path of the flattened tube or web W and also to tilt or incline the housing relative to the path of the web or flattened tube about horizontal axes extending laterally and longitudinally through the center of curvature of the contacting spherical surfaces of washers 36.

The set screws 46 can be adjusted to cant the housing 12 about the substantially vertical axis of bolt 34 with respect to the direction of movement of the web or flattened tube. After the various positional adjustments of housing 12 relative to the path of the web or flattened tube have been effected by manipulation of set screws 44 and 46, locking bolt 34 is then tightened to secure clamp 26, and the housing 12 suspended therefrom, in adjusted position with respect to mounting bars 42.

The web or flattened tube W moving intermittently under housing 12 passes over a suitable back-up or support surface 48 (FIG. 2) carried by a block 50 which is clamped at a laterally adjusted position on a support bar 52 extending laterally'under the path of travel of the web or flattened tube at a location below the mounting bars 42 so that the back-up surface 48 is disposed under the opening 24 of housing 12.

A first fluid pressure, preferably compressed air operated cylinder 54 is suspended from top wall 18 of housing 12 with the axis of cylinder 54 being centered with respect to clamp 26. An insulator block 56 is carried by the plunger or piston rod 58 which projects from the lower end of cylinder 54, and a heater block 60 is suspended from insulator block 56 and has horizontal bores containing removable electric heating elements 62 (FIG. The lower end portion of heater block 60 has grooves 64 extending along the opposite sides thereof, and a type holder 66 has upwardly and inwardly directed ribs 68 extending from its top and slidable in grooves 64 for suspending the type holder from the heater block. The type holder 66 further has a downwardly opening cavity 70 in which suitable pieces of type 72 are secured, as by set screws 74 (FIGS. 2 and 5), so as to project downwardly from the type holder. In order to hold type holder 66 against removal from heater block 60, screws 76 (FIG. 2) extend into the back of heater block 60 and have enlarged heads projecting below the bottom surface of the latter to limit backward movement of type holder 66, and a screw 78 mounts a tab 80 on the front of the heater block so that the tab can extend below the latter to engage the type holder 66 and prevent forward removal of the latter from engagement with the heater block.

Conduits 82 and 84 are connected to cylinder 54 adjacent the upper and lower ends of the latter and are alternately communicated with a source of compressed air and with the atmosphere for effecting downward or upward movement of insulator block 56, heater block 60 and type holder 66, as a unit, toward and away from back-up surface 48. In order to stabilize such unit and ensure that its movement is rectilinear, the opposite ends of insulator block 56 have H-shaped guide members 86 (FIGS. 4 and 5) secured thereto, as by screws 88, so as to lie in planes perpendicular to side walls 14 and 16. The guide members 86 have upwardly and downwardly opening slots 90 which receive guide rollers 92 rotatably mounted on the adjacent side wall 14 or 16.

The type 72 of marking apparatus 10 is intended to apply heat and pressure against a hot roll leaf stamping tape T extending laterally across the opening 24 at the bottom of housing 12 so that such heat and pressure effects the transfer of pigment from tape T to the web or flattened tube W to form an imprint on the latter in the shape of the effective or raised areas of the type. Since pigment is transferred from tape T to web'W during each marking operation, it is necessary that a new o-runused section of the tape be disposed under type holder 66 prior to each marking operation of the apparatus 10. In the apparatus 16, the tape T is fed from a roll of unused tape on a supply reel 94 which is rotatably mounted on a spindle projecting laterally from side wall 16 near the back of the latter. The tape is drawn forwardly off supply reel 94 by a roller 96 which is secured, as by a set screw 98 (FIG. 3) on-one end portion of a feeding roller shaft 100 journalled in bearings 102 mounted in side walls 14 and 16. The unused tape is wrapped on roller 96 and, in order to ensure frictional drive by the latter, the tape is pressed against the surface of roller 96 by a pressure roller 104 (FIGS. 1 and 6). Pressure roller 104 is freely rotatable on an axle 106 mounted in a yoke 108 which is pivoted on a pin *110 projecting from side wall 16. A tension spring 112 (FIG. 6) is connected between pivoted yoke 108 and an anchor pin 114 projecting from side wall 16 to urge the yoke to .pivot in the direction pressing roller 104 against roller 96.

The tape travels downwardly and forwardly from pressure roller 104 to guide pin 116 (FIG. 1) projecting laterally outward from the lower front corner of side wall 16 and around which the tape is passed between collars 118 which are adjustably positioned on guide pin 116 so as to accommodate tapes of different widths therebetween. The tape is passed rearwardly from guide pin 116 over a guide plate 120 which extends laterally outward from the bottom edge of side wall 16 and which has a diagonal or oblique back edge 122. The tape is turned through 90 degrees around :the oblique edge 122 so as to pass under guide plate 120 and then laterally across the opening 24 at the bottom of housing 12.

The used tape which has been acted upon by the heated 'die or type 72 passes laterally from below opening 24 under a guide plate 124 which projects laterally outward from the bottom edge of side wall 14 and which has an oblique back edge 126. The used tape is turned through 90 degrees over the oblique edge 126 and then passes forwardly over guide plate 124 and upwardly around a guide pin 128 projecting laterally outward from the lower front corner of side wall 14 and carrying adjustable collars 130 for locating the tape therebetween. The used tape passes-upwardly and rearwardly from guide pin 128 and around a feeding roller 132 which is secured, as by a set screw 134 (FIG. 3), on the end portion of shaft 100 which projects laterally beyond side wall 14. The tape is wrapped on feeding roller 132 and, in order to ensure frictional drive by the-latter, a pressure roller 136 presses the used tape against the surface of feeding roller 132. The pressure roller 136 is freely rotatable on an axle 138 (FIGS. 1 and 4) mounted in a yoke 140 which is pivoted on a pin 142 extending from side wall 14. The yoke 141) has an elongated inner arm 144 terminating in a head 146 formed with an arcuate slot 148 receiving a threaded stud 150 extending from the adjacent side wall 14. A wing nut 152 is screwed on stud 150 and can be tightened against head 146 to secure yoke 148 in an angular position where pressure roller 136 exerts the desired pressure holding the used tape in frictional contact with the surface of feeding roller 132. In order to assist in accurately adjusting the angular position of yoke 141), a disk 154 (FIG. 4) is eccentrically mounted on a screw 156 extending from side wall 14. When screw 156 is loosened and the eccentric disk 154 is turned therearound, the periphery of disk 154 engaging head 146 will produce small angular displacements of yoke 140 to achieve the desired pressure against the tape.

The used tape passes from feeding roller 132 around pressure roller 136, and then rearwardly from the latter to a guide pin 158 projecting laterally outward from side wall 14. The used tape is finally directed downwardly from guide pin 158 for rewinding on a take-up reel 160 which is mounted at the outside of side wall 14 for rotation about a laterally extending axis disposed near the back of such side wall.

The take-up reel 16%) is preferably driven from feeding roller 132 by an endless spring belt 162 running around pulleys 164 and 166 which are respectively fixed with respect to feeding roller 132 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and takeup reel 166 (FIG. 1).

The tape T is advanced a predetermined distance laterally across the bottom opening 24 of the housing in the direction from guide plate 120 toward guide plate 124 during the upward movement of type holder 66 at the conclusion of each marking operation so that a new or unused section of the tape is disposed under the type holder at the commencement of the next marking operation, and such feeding movement of the tape is effected by intermittent turning of the rollers 96 and 132 on shaft and of the take-up reel 160.

In accordance with the present invention, the intermittent turning of rollers 96 and 132 with shaft 180 is effected by a second fluid pressure, preferably compressed air operated cylinder 168 which is mounted on, and extends upwardly from bottom plate of housing 12. The piston rod or plunger 170 (FIGS. 2 and 3) projecting from the upper end of cylinder 168 is pinned or otherwise secured in a cross head 172 extending laterally be tween side walls 14 and 16. The opposite ends of cross head 172 have vertical grooves 174 formed therein to slidably engage guide bars 176 which extend vertically and are secured on the inner surfaces of the side walls. Thus, the guide bars 176 stabilize and ensure rectilinear movement of cross head 1'72 during vertical movement of the latter by cylinder 168.

The feeding roller shaft 180 carries a one-way or overrunning clutch 178 (FIG. 3) which may be of the type commercially available from Hilliard Corporation, of Elmira, New York, under the designation No. 1--12AL. The described clutch generally includes an inner body or driving member 180 freely turnable on a bearing 182 on shaft 160 within an outer housing 184 secured, as by a set screw 186, to shaft 100. The periphery of inner body 181 is formed with one or more wedge-shaped recesses each accommodating a roller 188 which is urged by a spring (not shown) towards the narrow or shallow end of the related recess. When the inner body 180 is turned in one direction, the roller 188 tends to wedge between inner body 180 and housing 184 to cause the latter to turn with the inner body. However, when inner body 180 is turned in the opposite direction, the friction of roller 188 against the inner surface of housing 184 tends to move the roller toward the deeper end of its recess and thereby permits turning of the inner body in such opposite direction without transmission of the turning movement to the outer housing. Accordingly, only turning of body 180 in one direction, specifically, the counter-clockwise direction as viewed on FIG. 2, is transmitted to housing 184 of clutch 1'78.

The inner body 188 of clutch 178 is held axially in outer housing 184 by a collar 190 secured'on shaft (FiG. 3), and a spur gear 192 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is secured on inner body 188 of the clutch, as by a set screw 194 (FIG. 3). A gear rack 196 is carried by cross head 172 and extends vertically at the front of the latter for meshing engagement with gear 192. During upward movement of the ram or plunger of cylinder 168, the upwardly moving gear rack 196 effects turning of gear 192 and the inner body of clutch 178 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed on FIG. 2, and such turning of inner body 180 is transmitted to the outer housing 184 of the clutch for effecting corresponding turning movement of shaft 106 and of rollers 96 and 132 secured on such shaft. However, during downward movement of ram 170, the meshing engagement of rack 196 with gear 192 causes turning of inner body 181) of the clutch in the clockwise direction, as viewed on FIG. 2, and such turning movement is not transmitted to the outer housing 184 of clutch 178 so that reverse turning of shaft 100 and of rollers 96 and 132 does not occur. In order to ensure against reverse turning of shaft 100, a ratchet wheel 198 (FIG. 3) is secured on shaft 100 adjacent side wall 14 and is peripherally engaged by a pawl 206 pivoted on such side wail. The pawl and the teeth of ratchet wheel 198 are arranged to prevent only rotation of shat-t 100 in the clockwise direction, as viewed on FIG. 2.

It will be apparent that, during turning of shaft 106, roller 96 is effective to draw a length of tape from supply reel 94 and roller 132 is simultaneously effective to pull an equal length of tape across the opening 24 of housing 12, while take-up reel 161) is turned to rewind the used tape thereon. The roller 132 acts to accurately measure the length of tape advanced across opening 24, while the roller 96 acts to hold back the tape and ensure that the latter is held taut at the marking position under opening 24. The length of tape drawn off supply reel 94 by roller 96 and pulled across opening 24 by feeding roller 132 is obviously dependent upon the angular extent of the movement of shaft 100, which is, in turn, determined by the length of the upward stroke of ram 170 of cylinder 168.

In order to adjustably control the length of the upward stroke of ram 170, and thereby vary the length of tape 'fed during each operating cycle of marking apparatus 10, the latter includes a stop screw 198 extending vertically below top wall 18 of housing 12 and positioned in the path of upward movement of cross head 172. Stop screw 198 is threaded through a support bar 200 which is secured on top of top wall 18, as by screws 202 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). The part of bar 200 through which stop screw 198 extends is split into upper and lower portions with a lateral slot 204 therebet-ween, and a set screw 206 ex-- tends through the upper of the split portions for engagement with the lower portion. When the lock screw 296 is loosened, stop screw 198 can be turned for adjusting the position of its head in the path of travel of cross head 172. After adjustment of stop screw 198, lock screw 206 can be tightened to spread apart the split portions of bar 208 and thereby lock stop screw 198.

Although cylinders 54 and 168 respectively effect the marking and tape feeding operations of apparatus 10, such operations are synchronized so that tape feeding occurs during the intervals between successive marking operations, that is, when type holder 66 is raised away from the tape extending across opening 24 of the housing.

As shown on FIGS. 2 and 7, the necessary synchronous operation of cylinders 54 and 168 may be simply achieved by branching the conduits 82 and 84 which connect to the upper and lower ends of cylinder 54 from conduits 82a and 84a which connect to the upper and lower ends of cylinder 168'. Thus, when compressed air or other fluid under pressure is supplied to the upper ends of cylinders 54 and 168 through conduits 82 and 82a and the lower ends of the cylinders are connected to exhaust, or to the atmosphere, through conduits 84 and 84a, type holder 66 is moved-downwardly to-etfect the marking operation, whereas the downward movement of cross head 172 and gearrack 196 causes turning of gear 192 which is not transmitted to shaft 100. On the other hand, when compressed airor'other fluid under pressureis supplied to the lowerends of cylinders 54- and 1 68 through conduits 84 and 84a and the upper ends of the cylinders are vented to the atmosphere through conduits 82 and 82a, the upward movement of type holder 66 moves the type '72 out of contact with the tape T and the upward movement of gear rack 196 causes turning of gear 192 in the counterclockwis direction, as viewed on FIG. 2, to effect corresponding turning of shaft IOtB'and of rollers 96 and 132 for feeding the-tape to an extent determined by the limiting of the upward stroke of cross head 172 by stop screw 1%.

The operation of cylinders 54 and 168 are intended tobe synchronized with the intermittent advancement of the web or flattened tube W toward the associated wrapping or other machine so that, during movement of the web or flattened tube, type holder 66 is raised, whereas, when the web or flattened tube is at rest, the type holder is moved downwardly to effect the marking operation. Asshown schematically on FIG. 7, the operation of marking apparatus 10 may be conveniently synchronized with the intermittent advancement of the web or fiattened tube by suitably controlling the supplying of compressed air to cylinders 54 and 168 from an operating member, for example, a rotated shaft 208 of the associated wrapping or other machine. In the illustrated electro-pneumatic control system, which is shown merely by way of example, the rotation of shaft 208' is assumed to have a timed relation to the intermittent advancement of web or flattened tube W, and shaft 208Jca-rries a cam 210 which is engaged by the actuating member 212' of a switch 214- interposed in an' electrical circuit between a current source 216 and a solenoid 218. The armature of solenoid 218 is connected to a valve spool 220 which is axially movable in a valve housing 222 and which is urged by a spring 224 to the position shown on FIG. 7. When slenoid'218 is deenergized and spring 224 moves the valve spool to the illustrated position, conduits 84 and 84a extending to'the lower ends of cylinders 54 and 168 are placed in communication with a supply line 226 extending tovalve housing 222 from a suitable source of compressed air indicated at 228. At the same time, conduits 82 and 82a extending to the upper ends of cylinders 54: and1'68are placed in communication with a vent or port 230 opening to the atmosphere.

When actuating member 212 of the normally opened switch 214 is engaged by the radially enlarged portion of cam 210, thereby to close switch 214 and energize solenoid 218; the armature of the latter is retracted against the force of'spring 224 to move valve spool 220 in the upward direction, as viewed on FIG. 7, whereby conduits 82 and 32a are placed in communication with the compressed air supply conduit 226, while conduits 84 and 84a are placed in communication with a port or vent 232 opening, to atmosphere. Cam 210 is arranged so that compressed air is supplied to conduits 82 and 82a to effect the marking operation and the return or downward movement of rack 196, respectively, only when the web or flattened tube is at rest, and to effect the supplying of compressed air to conduits 84 and 84a for raising the type holder 66 and effecting feeding movement of the tape T, respectively, during advancement of the web or flattened tube.

particularly, the provision of the spherical washers 36- and the adjusting screws 44, the housing 12 can be adjusted to ensure that the marking surfaces ofthe type elements 72 lie in a plane that is exactly parallel to the pressure or back-up surface 48 so that all parts of each impression are made with the same contact pressure.

Since the feeding of thetape is effectedby the cylinder 168 independently of the cylinder 54 which effects the marking. operation, the distance through. which the tapeis fed during each operating cycle of apparatus 10 can be conveniently adjusted merely by limiting the operative or upward stroke of crosshead 172 through the use of the stop screw 198 which is externally accessible and can-be adjusted during operation-of the apparatus. Thus,

the distance through which the tapeis fed can be adjusted if, during operation-of the apparatus, any gaps ap pear on the tape between successive imprintsmade from the latter.

Since roller 96 withdraws the unused tape from supply reel 94, the feeding roller 132 only needs to exert a pull sufficient to feedthe tape across the opening 24 of housing 12, thereby minimizing the possibility of tearing or stretching of the tape while ensuring that the tape is taut at the marking position.

By reason of the fact that the four screws 32 securing the clamp 26 to top wall 18 of the housing are uniformly spaced apart about the axis of screw-34 which is, in turn, aligned with the axis of cylinder 54 and the center of type holder 66, the clamp 26 can be secured on the top wall so as to receive the support bars42. with the latterextending laterally relative to the housing, as shown, or the clamp member 26 can be turned through degrees from the position shown, in whichcase housing 12 is supported from support bars 42 with the. side Walls 14 and 16 of the housing lying in vertical planes parallel to the support bars 42 rather than at right angles to the latter. When clamp member 26is arranged onhousing 12 in the position shown, tape T extendsunder opening 24 of the housing, in the transverse direction with respect to the direction of movement of the web' or folded tube W. However, by turning clamp member 26 through 90 degrees relative to housing 12, as described above, the portion of tape T extending under housing opening 24 can be arranged parallel to the direction of movement of the web or flattened tube. The foregoing alternative arrangements of housing 12 relative to its supporting clamp 26 permit the most economical utilization of the hot roll leaf stamping tape. If the impression to be applied to the web or flattened tube W isrelatively long and narrow and has its length extending in the direction of movement of the web or flattened tube, then the housing is arranged as shown, and the type elements 72 act upon a relatively narrow portion of the tape T extending substantially across the entire width of the latter, with the feeding of the tape after each marking operation being through a distance corresponding to such narrow portion of the tape. However, if a long and narrow impression is to be applied to the web or flattened tube so as to extend transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the web or tube, then the housing is turned relative to its clamping member 26 and the tape T passes under the opening 24 in the direction of movement of the web. In the latter case, the type elements once again act on a narrow portion of the tape extending substantially across the latter. Such turning of the housing relative to its clamping member 26 does not affect the positioning of each mark or impression along .the web or flattened tube.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be eifected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is...claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently advanced sheet material by pressing heated type against the latter through a hot roll leaf stamping tape, the combination of support means adapted to be mounted adjacent the path of travel of the intermittently advanced sheet material, a first pressure fluid operated cylinder carried by said support means and having a plunger mov able perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material, heated type holding means mounted on said plunger for movement with the latter toward and away from the sheet material, supply means mounted on said support means for holding a supply of unused stamping tape, take-up means mounted on said support means for receiving the used stamping tape, guide means leading the stamping tape from said supply means to said take-up means along a path that includes a marking position between said type holding means and the sheet material, a second pressure fluid operated cylinder carried by said support means and having a reciprocable plunger, tape feeding means including a shaft rotatably carried by said support means, two rollers on said shaft which frictionally engage the tape at locations along the path of the latter between said supply means and said marking position and between the latter and said take-up means, respectively, so as to move the tape along said path in response to turning of said shaft in one direction, and drive means connected with said plunger of the second cylinder for turning said shaft in only said one direction in response to reciprocation of said plunger of the second cylinder, and means controlling the supplying of fluid under pressure to said first and second cylinders to. cause said first cylinder to move said heated type holding means away from the sheet material during each advance of the latter and toward the sheet material when the latter is at rest, and to cause said second cylinder to operate said tape feeding means during each movement of the type holding means away from the sheet material.

2. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently advanced sheet material, the combination as in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a gear rack secured to said plunger of the second cylinder, a gear tunnable on said shaft and meshing with said rack, and one-way clutch means connected between said gear and shaft to transmit turning of said gear only in said one direction to said shaft.

3. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently advanced sheet material, the combination as in claim 2 further comprising a stop screw adjustably carried by said support means to adjustably limit the length of the stroke of said plunger of the second cylinder and thereby adjustably determine the distance by which the tape is moved along said path during each operation of the tape feeding means.

4. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently advanced sheet material by pressing heated type against the latter through a hot roll leaf stamping tape, the combination of a pair of parallel bars extending transversely with respect to the path of travel of the intermittently advanced sheet material, a housing, mounting means for connecting said housing with said bars including an inverted U-shaped clamp through which said bars extend, an inverted T-shaped locking member within said clamp engageable under and between said bars, a locking bolt extending through said clamp and into said locking member for drawing the latter toward the clamp and thereby securing the latter relative to the support bars, and a plu rality of screws equally spaced apart around the center of said clamp and threaded into said housing for removably attaching said clamp to said housing in alternative positions which are turned relative to the housing through ninety degrees about an axis which extends through the center of said clamp, a first pressure fluid operated cylinder fixedly mounted within said housing with its axis coinciding with said axis extending through the center of the clamp and having a plunger movable perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material, heated type holding means mounted on said plunger for movement with the latter toward and away from the sheet material, supply means mounted on said housing for holding a supply of unused stamping tape, take-up means mounted on said housing for receiving the used stamping tape, guide means leading the stamping tape from said supply means to said take-up means along a path that includes a marking position between said type holding means and the sheet material, tape feeding means operative to move the tape along said path, a second pressure fluid operated cylinder fixedly mounted within said housing and having a plunger connected to said tape feeding means for operating the latter, and means controlling the supplying of fluid under pressure to said first and second cylinders to cause said first cylinder to move said heated type holding means away from the sheet material during each advance of the latter and toward the sheet material when the latter is at rest, and to cause said second cylinder to operate said tape feeding means during each movement of the type holding means away from the sheet material.

5. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently advanced sheet material, the combination as in claim 4; wherein said mounting means further includes spherical washers between said locking bolt and said clamp, and adjusting set screws extending through said clamp to engage said support bars within the latter for angularly adjusting said housing relative to the fixed support bars.

6. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently ad vanced sheet material by pressing heated type against the latter through a hot roll leaf stamping tape, the combination of support means adapted to be mounted adjacent the path of travel of the intermittently advanced sheet material and including a housing having spaced side walls, a pressure fluid operated cylinder fixedly carried by said housing between said side walls of the latter and having a plunger movable perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material, heated type holding means, means securing said type holding means on said plunger for movement with the latter toward and away from the sheet material and including a block having guides secured to its opposite sides and formed with slots extending parallel to the axis of said cylinder, rollers rotatably carried by said side walls of the housing and engaging in said slots of the guides for ensuring rectilinear movement of the type holding means, supply means for holding a supply of unused stamping tape, take-up means for receiving the used stamping tape, guide means leading the tape from said supply means to said take-up means along a path that includes a marking position between said type holding means and the sheet material, tape feeding means operative to move the tape along said path during movement of the type holding means away from the sheet material, and means controlling the supplying of fluid under pressure to said cylinder to cause the latter to move said type holding means away from the sheet material during each advance of the latter and toward the sheet material when the latter is at rest.

7. In an apparatus for imprinting intermittently advanced sheet material by pressing heated type against the latter through a hot roll leaf stamping tape, the combination of support means adapted to be mounted adjacent the path of travel of the intermittently advanced sheet 1 1 material, a pressure fluid operated cylinder fixedly carried by said support means and having a plunger movable perpendicular to the plane of the sheet material, heated .type holding means, means securing said type holding means on .said plunger for movement with the latter toward and away from the sheet material, supply means for holding a supply of unused stamping tape, take-up means for receiving the used stamping tape, guide means leading the tape from said supply means to said take-up means along a path that-includes a marking position between said type holding means and the sheet material, a shaft rotatably carried by said support means, two rollers on said shaft which frictionally engage the tape at locations along the path of the latter between said supply means and said marking position and between the latter and said take-up means, respectively, whereby to maintain the tape in a substantially taut condition at said marking position, drive means for turning said shaft in only one direction during the movement of said typeholding means and plunger in the direction away from the sheet material, whereby said rollers move the tape along said path, and means controlling the supplying of fluid under pressure to said cylinder to cause the latter to move said typeiholding means away from the sheet material during each advance of the latter and toward the sheet material when the latter is at rest,

References Cited by the Examiner Sciame 10l9 ROBERT E. P'ULFREY, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR IMPRINTING INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCED SHEET MATERIAL BY PRESSING HATED TYPE AGAINST THE LATTER THROUGH A HOT ROLL LEAF STAMPING TAPE, THE COMBINATION OF SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ADJACENT THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCED SHEET MATERIAL, A FIRST PRESSURE FLUID OPERATED CYLINDER CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A PLUNGER MOVABLE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE SHEET MATERIAL, HEATED TYPE HOLDING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID PLUNGER FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE LATTER TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE SHEET MATERIAL, SUPPLY MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF UNUSED STAMPING TAPE, TAKE-UP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE USED STAMPING TAPE, GUIDE MEANS LEADING THE STAMPING TAPE FROM SAID SUPPLY MEANS TO SAID TAKE-UP MEANS ALONG A PATH THAT INCLUDES A MARKING POSITION BETWEEN SAID TYPE HOLDING MEANS AND THE SHEET MATERIAL, A SECOND PRESSURE FLUID OPERATED CYLINDER CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A RECIPROCABLE PLUNGER, TAPE FEEDING MEANS INCLUDING A SHAFT ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS, TWO ROLLERS ON SAID SHAFT WHICH FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE THE TAPE AT LOCATIONS ALONG THE PATH OF THE LATTER BETWEEN SAID SUPPLY MEANS AND SAID MARKING POSITION AND BETWEEN THE LATTER AND SAID TAKE-UP MEANS, RESPECTIVELY, SO AS TO MOVE THE TAPE ALONG SAID PATH IN RESPONSE TO TURNING OF SAID SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION, AND DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID PLUNGER OF THE SECOND CYLINDER FOR TURNING SAID SHAFT IN ONLY SAID ONE DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO RECIPROCATION OF SAID PLUNGER OF THE SECOND CYLINDER, AND MEANS CONTROLLING THE SUPPLYING OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND CYLINDERS TO CAUSE SAID FIRST CYLINDER TO MOVE SAID HEATED TYPE HOLDING MEANS AWAY FROM THE SHEET MATERIAL DURING EACH ADVANCE OF THE LATTER AND TOWARD THE SHEET MATERIAL WHEN THE LATTER IS AT REST, AND TO CAUSE SAID SECOND CYLINDER TO OPERATE SAID TAPE FEEDING MEANS DURING EACH MOVEMENT OF THE TYPE HOLDING MEANS AWAY FROM THE SHEET MATERIAL. 